Author: Web Site Administrator

A park in Elizabeth. A sidewalk project in New Providence.  Repairs for municipal buildings in Garwood.  Numerous road repavings. These are some of the projects that this year’s Union County Freeholders Infrastructure Grant program will fund throughout the County.

In all, the Freeholders made awards to 21 municipalities as part of the fifth annual Union County Infrastructure Grant program, funding projects aimed at spurring economic development growth, and providing indirect tax relief.

The program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015, developed by the County’s Freeholder Fiscal Committee and administered by the Department of Economic Development.  This year’s Freeholder Fiscal Committee included Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella, and Freeholders Sergio Granados, Angel Estrada, and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

Road improvements once again topped the list as the most requested program for funding, among the municipalities.

“A recent statewide poll taken by Stockton University noted that 46 percent of New Jersey’s commuters sustained a flat tire or some other damage to their vehicles because of roads in need of repair or resurfacing,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Infrastructure grant program is aimed at helping our municipalities make these and other needed improvements—and provide relief for our commuters.”

Freeholder Hudak agreed, adding:

“Our goal is to provide an economic boost to our municipalities and leverage their funds in making essential improvements,” said Freeholder Chris Hudak. “With more people moving into Union County than ever before, and new development coming on line, it’s important that we continue to make infrastructure our highest priority.”

 The matching grant initiative makes available approximately $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, assisting them to accomplish tasks undertaken in calendar year 2019.

Funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

Fanwood

Garwood

Hillside

Kenilworth

Linden

Mountainside

New Providence

Plainfield

Rahway

Roselle Park

Roselle

Scotch Plains

Springfield

Summit

Union

Westfield

Winfield

Berkeley Heights

Clark

Cranford

Elizabeth

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Sergio Granados and Christopher Hudak, Acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan and Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County Janice C. Lilien joined Dr. Jacquelyn C. Campbell, Union County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations Vincent G. Gagliardi, Jr, Kean University Public Safety Director Mark Farsi and Nathan Weiss Graduate College Dean Dr. Christine W. Thorpe at the 6th annual Union County C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Action, Response, Education, Safety) Domestic Violence Symposium at Kean University in Union. Dr. Campbell was the keynote speaker.

The Symposium is jointly presented by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and YWCA Union County, and co-sponsored by Kean University, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Elizabeth-based Family and Children’s Services, and the Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation. The agenda featured more than a dozen speakers focusing on this year’s topic: “A Lethal Reality: When Domestic Violence Turns Deadly.” 

The Symposium again has been timed to coincide with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crimes Victims’ Rights Week, being held this year from April 7-13 (for more information, go online tohttps://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw).
(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

No date set, however burn is planned within next month, pending weather conditions

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS), a unit of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry will conduct a prescribed burn of approximately 3 acres in what is known as the “Red Hill” section of Union County’s Ash Brook Reservation in Scotch Plains. The area is located between Raritan Road and Martine Avenue.

The fire will last approximately two hours. While no date or time has yet been set for the burn since it is weather dependent, once a date is known, it will be posted on the County’s webpage and social media, sent to media, and sent through the County’s First Alert email system to residents.

Prescribed burns are commonly done throughout the state by the Forest Fire Service.  Last summer Governor Phil Murphy signed into law “The Prescribed Burn Act,” which preserved landowners’ rights to prescribed burns, strengthened protections for practitioners, and expanded acceptable uses of prescribed fire from reducing traditional hazard fuels to recognizing the benefits of habitat management as well as other forestry and ecological needs.

The area in the Ash Brook Reservation that will be burned is not immediately near any homes or private property, and the purpose of the burn is to eliminate possible fuel for a potential future forest fire, manage encroaching invasive plants, and to prevent the area from succeeding from a native meadow into a forest. 

The site is considered by naturalists  to be an ecologically important one.  Doing a burn in this manner with professional fire fighters will benefit the ecology of this area in the reservation, which includes valuable plant species, some, found nowhere else in Union County due to the unique soils and formation of the site.   

If in doubt about the source of smoke or fire, residents are call 911 or Union County Police at 908-654-9800. 

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholder Christopher Hudak present a resolution to NJ Sharing Network Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Elisse Glennon recognizing the month of April as National Donate Life Month in the County of Union. NJ Sharing Network, headquartered in New Providence, is the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for those in need of a life-saving transplant. Realizing the urgent need for organ and tissue donors across the country, the National Donate Life Month observance promotes a greater understanding about the life-saving benefits of donation and transplantation. For more information about NJ Sharing Network, visit www.njsharingnetwork.org.

The Freeholders also presented a resolution to Cranford native Eric Walano commending him for selflessly donating a kidney to an individual in need. Mr. Walano attended a charity gala in 2017 to benefit Hearts for Emma. Hearts for Emma works closely in partnership with the New Jersey Sharing Network in order to raise awareness about organ donation. At this event, he was inspired to become an altruistic kidney donor.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Ashleigh Simpson

Gina Fabio

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi congratulates the winners of the “I Voted” Sticker Design Art Contest sponsored by the Clerk’s office. Gina Fabio of the Deerfield School in Mountainside is the winner in the Grade 5-8 category. Ashleigh Simpson, of Union, from Union County Vocational and Technical School in Scotch Plains is the winner in the category of Grades 9-12. Gina was joined by her parents Joe and Lisa Fabio. Ashleigh was joined by her parents Henry and Lorraine Simpson.

Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli is pleased to announce the 12th Annual Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy is now accepting applications for its 2019 summer class.

The free program is designed to provide youths the opportunity to gain insight into the everyday functions and training of the variety of law enforcement agencies and emergency services. It operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement.

“The Youth Academy aims to teach kids about law enforcement and it is a great first step for those interested in the field,” Sheriff Corvelli said.

The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is not a ‘boot camp’ for troubled youth. In order to enroll in the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B- average) and a one page letter of reference from a non-family member.

Also, all applicants must have their parents/guardians sign all waivers and obtain a medical release note from their physician.

The two-week program for middle school and high school students meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains.

The class for 7^th and 8^th graders runs July 8-12, 2019. The high school class for grades 9 through 12 will take place from July 15-26, 2019.

During the program, the teens engage in a physical training regime, team building exercises, and attend lectures on subjects such as crime scene investigations and motor vehicle stops. They also receive visits from representatives from several branches of the military, New Jersey State Police NJ State Police, FBI and the ATF.

The Youth Academy also involves visiting various Sheriff’s Office operations around the county including the K-9 Search and Rescue Unit, the Fugitive Unit and Courthouse Complex Security.

Last year more than 100 students from across Union County graduated from the Sheriff’s Youth Academy.

Applications may be obtained by emailing Sergeant Tara Halpin at thalpin@ucnj.org or Officer Victoria Smith at vsmith@ucnj.org. Applications can also be downloaded at https://ucnj.org/sheriff/community-programs/youth-academy/.

Completed applications should be sent to the attention of: S/O Tara Halpin, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Administration Building, 1st Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Angela Garretson, Rebecca Williams, Andrea Staten, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados this evening congratulated the recipients of the Union County 2019 Women of Excellence Awards during at the 27th Annual Women of Excellence Gala Awards Dinner in Clark. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. The Union County women being recognized for their accomplishments by the Commission on the Status of Women are:

• Amy Cairns of Summit, Government Service
• Antonietta LaVecchia of Summit, Business/Community Activist
• Clea Carchia of Rahway, Arts/Graphic Design
• Dawn McDonald of Scotch Plains, Education
• Dr. Julia Grimes of Westfield, Medicine/Health & Wellness
• Iliana Chevres of Elizabeth, Special Needs Advocacy
• Kay Coats Macrae of Springfield, Theater Arts
• Marlene Olson Hamm of Rahway, Environmental Advocacy
• Mary Zimmermann of Summit, Lifetime Achievement
• Michele Dabal of New Providence, Humanitarian Activities
• Sandra Jackson of Linden, Youth Advocacy

The Women of Excellence Awards are sponsored by the Freeholder Board and the Union County Commission on the Status of Women, with the Union County Office on Women. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

As Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) approaches this weekend on Sunday, March 31st, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders declares support of this important day and recognizes that TDOV is about more than visibility—it’s an opportunity for all to be an ally.

TDOV is a day dedicated to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness around the discrimination transgender people still face in today’s society.

“At a time when quality of life for members of the transgender community is constantly under attack by the current administration in Washington – with obstinate and direct attacks on transgender members of the military – TDOV reminds us that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders calls on the people of our county to embrace this principle and work to eliminate prejudice and injustice where it exists.”

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders stand in support of all transgender people, and condemns attempts to stigmatize and marginalize them. The Freeholders believe transgender individuals have the right to a full quality of life as respected members of our families, communities, and work force.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support and partner with organizations, community groups and other government and nongovernment agencies to advance programs and services that impact the quality of life for members of the LGBTQ community,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Freeholder LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee.

Parents, educators and community members are invited to attend a free educational presentation, “What Parents Need to Know about Transgender Individuals” being held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23 at the John H. Stamler Police Academy on the Union County Vo-Tech Campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Presented by Dr. Paula C. Rodriguez Rust of Spectrum Diversity, LLC, the purpose of the presentation is to help parents, educators and other adults better understand gender identity and transgender issues, and to provide tips on how to speak with children and adolescents about these sensitive topics, as well as addressing any questions or concerns any attendee may have.

The program, free and open to the public is hosted by the Union County Human Rights Commission (a commission under the Union County Prosecutor’s Office) and co-sponsored by the Office of the Union County Superintendent of Schools and the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

The Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first and only county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey and offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/LGBTQ.

Union County Freeholders Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados present a resolution to members of the Westfield High School’s Model United Nations Club congratulating them on being awarded the Outstanding Delegation Award at the annual the YMCA Model UN Program conference held in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The YMCA Model UN Program (Y-MUN) is a unique Model UN experience that serves more than 2,000 young people annually across the Mid-Atlantic States.

The conference provides an unprecedented simulation of the UN that highlights the themes of collaboration, cultural understanding and problem solving that are at the core of the organization’s real-life goals

The convention helps students develop their debate skills and find their voice, but in a one-of-a-kind conference that brings together servant leadership, public speaking and global problem solving rather than a singular emphasis on debate. Approximately 2,000 students from 80 Mid-Atlantic schools attended the conference this year

The Westfield High School Model UN program is run in conjunction with the Westfield Area YMCA.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Rebecca Williams and Andrea Staten present a resolution to Shalonda Archibald congratulating her on being named the 2019 Literacy Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Literacy Association. Ms. Archibald has been a dedicated educator in the Plainfield Public School system for 6 years. She currently teaches at Maxson Middle School as an ELA RTI teacher and a Literacy Coach. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)